• The $1.5 billion Casablanca facility will process about 1.5 million metric tons of waste each year.
• The project is expected to generate 115 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply nearly 1 million people.
• Local debt financing, a state-backed power purchase agreement and methane reductions will shape the project’s investment case.

A Swiss-Japanese-led consortium plans to begin construction of a $1.5 billion waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca by the end of 2026, targeting full operations by mid-2030.

The facility would become only the second large-scale plant of its kind in Africa. It will combine waste processing, solar power and landfill gas to produce electricity for Morocco’s largest city.

Kanadevia Inova, Moroccan energy company Nareva and Japanese trading group Itochu signed a concession agreement with Casablanca’s city government on Monday. Moroccan construction company Somagec will build the facility.

The project is designed to address the environmental damage caused by the Mediouna landfill. The site has generated foul odours and pollution for decades. Contaminated water has also seeped into surrounding farmland, while decomposing waste has released methane and other greenhouse gases.

Local financing will determine construction timeline

Construction will begin once the consortium secures its full debt and equity package. Kanadevia Inova expects this process to conclude during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin, chief executive of Kanadevia Inova, said the plant should take about three and a half years to complete. However, waste treatment and electricity generation could start six to 10 months before final completion.

The consortium has already secured a power purchase agreement with Morocco’s state-owned electricity and water utility, ONEE. That agreement provides a long-term buyer for the electricity produced by the facility.

The developers will seek debt financing from Moroccan banks rather than international lenders.

“The debt will be all local,” Baudouin said.

The financing structure gives Moroccan institutions a direct role in one of the country’s largest waste infrastructure projects. It also limits foreign exchange exposure, which can raise costs for emerging-market energy developments.

For investors, the project combines several infrastructure revenue streams. These include waste-processing payments, electricity sales and energy production from solar and landfill gas.

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Plant targets waste and power demand

Once operational, the Casablanca plant will process about 1.5 million metric tons of waste each year. It will generate roughly 115 megawatts of electricity.

Kanadevia Inova said this would provide enough power for nearly 1 million people.

The project supports Morocco’s wider efforts to modernise urban infrastructure and expand domestic energy generation. It could also reduce pressure on landfills as Casablanca’s population and waste volumes grow.

The Mediouna site has long carried environmental and public health costs for nearby communities. Capturing landfill gas and treating waste could reduce methane emissions from the site while limiting further contamination.

Baudouin said the development could cut greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equal to around 20% of Switzerland’s annual emissions.

“It’s like removing 300,000 cars from the road,” he said.

Methane has a far stronger near-term warming effect than carbon dioxide. Reducing uncontrolled landfill emissions can therefore deliver rapid climate benefits when projects include effective gas capture and monitoring.

Environmental concerns remain

Waste-to-energy projects remain controversial, particularly when they rely on incineration.

Environmental scientists, climate campaigners and community groups argue that such facilities may weaken incentives to recycle. Critics also warn that incinerators can produce particulate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Those concerns will place pressure on Casablanca’s government and the consortium to demonstrate strong environmental controls. Transparent emissions reporting, independent monitoring and clear recycling policies will be central to public acceptance.

The plant’s governance framework will also need to define how waste is sorted before treatment. Without effective separation, valuable recyclable materials could be diverted into the energy system.

For corporate leaders and infrastructure investors, the Casablanca project illustrates the growing link between waste management, power generation and climate finance.

Its success will depend on more than construction and capital. It will require credible emissions controls, community engagement and alignment with Morocco’s broader circular economy priorities.

If delivered as planned, the facility could become a reference point for other African cities facing rising waste volumes, strained landfill capacity and growing electricity demand.